Cherry Blossom Season in Japan

Winter in Hokkaido stretches from late October through to March and the Siberian fronts bring icy cold winds and heavy snowfall.

Winter on the mainland lasts throughout December, January and February with more snowfall in Tohoku and the Alps region but staying relatively mild in Kyoto, Hiroshima, Shikoku and Kyushu islands.

Crisp air, clear blue skies and dry weather mean that winter shouldn’t be a barrier to travel in Japan. Even in Hokkaido there is plenty to do through the coldest months, from bird watching in Kushiro and Sapporo’s Yuki matsuri (snow festival) in February to world-class skiing in Niseko and Furano until April or May.

January sees the coming of the New Year, the biggest holiday in the Japanese calendar and celebrating o-shogatsu with thousands of people at Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu shrine is a remarkable experience. Jo & Henrietta shun the warmer months and tell us just why winter is their favourite time of year:

Simple pleasures such as hot cans of coffee and tea from vending machines warm up a cold day and make one marvel at the wonders of modern technology. Japanese people snuggle up under their kotatsu (a low table with an electric, heated duvet spread over to keep your legs warm as you sit and drink tea) and warm their souls in the hot spring baths at their inns. Winter can be very romantic! The Nozawa Onsen Fire festival and the opening of the ski season in the Alps make winter an extremely attractive option for travellers to Japan.